VHP cries foul over the military’s decision to shut down cow farms
BOVINE CALLING Gau rakshaks expected to agitate against govt’s call to shut army farms
The defence ministry has decided to dispose off cows from all 39 military farms across the nation and has also directed disallowing the breeding of cows.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the rightwing outfit, objected to this claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party government is aiming to kill the cows. The VHP and gau-rakshaks want the military’s decision revoked.
According to Dr Surendra Jain, the national spokesperson of VHP, the Cabinet committee on security (CCS) has decided to dispose off around 25,000 cows from military farms.
“The decision does not make sense. What does the government want to do with these animals? There are several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) run by Jains and other communities that can take care of these cows. The government can hand over these cows to such NGOs,” said Jain.
The defence ministry on August 8, decided to auction nearly 25,000 high-yielding cows as the government is set to close down 39 military farms that supplied milk and other dairy products to lakhs of soldiers in all these years.
The first 12 farms, primarily the small ones, were supposed to shut down by August 15, while the remaining 27 would be within the next three months. The first military farm began its operation in Allahabad in 1889 and later spread to 38 other sites.
These farms witnessed one of the most successful cross-breeding programmes in history in which highyielding Frieswal breeds were created by crossing a mix of Holstein-Friesian cows from the Netherlands with India’s native sahiwal ruminants.
Champatrai, general secretary of VHP, has issued a circular for gau rakshaks and expressed concern that the government wants to kill cows and bovines.
Dr Jain said, “The decision of CCS has created confusion among VHP workers. The order seems to have stated the disposing off of cows. The government should clarify the meaning of disposal.”
He further said, “Another point of not allowing breeding is dangerous. This will stop the generation of existing cows and no cow will be produced henceforth. Even if breeding is not allowed, it would badly affect the health of cows.”
Dr Jain added that the military farms have stopped cultivating fodder for cows and according to the order, all military farms have to be shut down by October 14, 2017. “This is inhuman and cruel. For gau rakshaks, the decision is a threat to cows and it should be taken seriously,” said the spokesperson.